SUMMARY OF THE CORPORATE PLAN 2009-2010 TO 2013-2014 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS FOR 2009-2010 ALLIANCE OF NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUMS OF CANADA The Alliance of Natural History Museums of Canada is dedicated to the preservation and understanding of Canada’s natural heritage. By working in partnership, the Alliance is able to provide enhanced public programming with national reach, contribute to informed decision making in areas of public policy, and enhance collections planning and development to facilitate public and scientific access to collections information. MEMBERS: Canadian Museum of Nature • Montréal’s Nature Museums New Brunswick Museum • Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre • Royal Alberta Museum Royal British Columbia Museum • Royal Ontario Museum • Royal Saskatchewan Museum Royal Tyrrell Museum • The Manitoba Museum • The Rooms, Provincial Museum Division Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre CANADIAN MUSEUM OF NATURE BOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIR R. Kenneth Armstrong, O.M.C., Peterborough, Ontario VI C E - C H A I R Dana Hanson, M.D., Fredericton, New Brunswick MEMBERS Lise des Greniers, Granby, Quebec Martin Joanisse, Gatineau, Quebec Teresa MacNeil, O.C., Johnstown, Nova Scotia (until June 18, 2008) Melody McLeod, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories Mark Muise, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia (effective June 18, 2008) Chris Nelson, Ottawa, Ontario Erin Rankin Nash, London, Ontario Harold Robinson, Edmonton, Alberta Henry Tom, Vancouver, British Columbia Jeffrey A. Turner, Manotick, Ontario EXECUTIVE StAFF Joanne DiCosimo, President and Chief Executive Officer Maureen Dougan, Vice-President, Corporate Services and Chief Operating Officer TABLE OF CONTENTS CORPORATE OvERVIEW Highlights .................................................................................................................................................2 Priorities for 2009-2010 ............................................................................................................................6 Mandate and Vision ..................................................................................................................................7 Corporate Profile .......................................................................................................................................8 Financial Resources ..................................................................................................................................9 ASSESSMENT OF 2008-2009 RESULTS ............................................................................... 10 SITUATION ANALYSIS .................................................................................................................. 20 ObJEctIVES, STRATEGIES AND PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR 2009-2010 TO 2013-2014 ......................................23 FINANCIAL SUmmARY Five-Year Financial Plan .......................................................................................................................... 31 Annual Budget ........................................................................................................................................ 32 Financial Statements ............................................................................................................................... 33 APPENDICES Appendix A: Signature and Special Exhibitions ......................................................................................36 Appendix B: Victoria Memorial Museum Building Renewal Project ........................................................38 CORPORATE OVERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS During the 2008-2009 fiscal year, the Canadian Museum of Nature (CMN) made significant progress on its priorities and objectives and completed a new five-year Strategic Plan for 2009-2010 through 2013-2014. The Museum’s progress in the four key priority areas identified in its 2008-2009 Corporate Plan is outlined below. 1. Development of the Museum’s National Service Role and Impact The Museum has a long history of conducting scientific research in the Arctic. Its scientists helped lead the first Canadian Arctic Expedition from 1913-1918, and over the years has played a major role in exploring and documenting the natural history of Canada’s North. Today, as the only federal organization with the legislated mandate to collect and maintain the record of Canada’s natural history, the Museum has a critical role to play in preserving Canada’s Arctic heritage. It was no exception in 2008, and Museum research scientists undertook a strong programme of field research in the Arctic. The viability of its highly successful national service model was demonstrated through a series of national lectures and youth forums in support of the International Polar Year (IPY). The series featured IPY funded scientists and Arctic specialists speaking at venues across the country that provided Canadians with new insight into the history, wildlife and changing nature of the world’s Polar Regions. Now, with the conclusion of IPY, early planning has started on programmes and events for the 2010 International Biodiversity Year. Throughout the year, the Museum continued to take an active role in the Alliance of Natural History Museums of Canada (ANHMC). Key ANHMC initiatives included the preparation of a national collections development strategy, taking into account all members’ collections, practices and taxonomic expertise. The Museum also initiated a new programme of educational videoconferences, significantly increased the overall content of its award-winning website, nature.ca, and made access to knowledge through the Museum’s various channels easier and more efficient. INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR AccOMPLISHMENTS In 2008-2009, the Canadian Museum of Nature helped to increase knowledge of the Arctic through its contributions to International Polar Year. Highlights included: • Participation in Canada’s Three Oceans Study; • Polar Perspectives public lecture series; • Baseline ice core sampling for the Circumpolar Flaw Lead study; • Strathcona Fiord prehistoric Beaver Pond expedition; • Beaufort Sea marine invertebrate research; • Arctic botany specimen collection expedition; and • Host of Students on Ice programme. 2 CANADIAN MUSEUM OF NATURE CORPORATE OVERVIEW 2. Victoria Memorial Museum Building Renewal Project The birthplace of Canada’s national museums, the Victoria Memorial Museum Building, opened its doors a century ago. Beginning in 2004, major renovations were undertaken, the largest since 1910, to update this magnificent gothic castle to better meet the needs of a 21st century museum. In 2008-2009, the Museum welcomed visitors to the newly renovated West Wing with a comprehensive package of new exhibitions, programming, visitor services and amenities. To meet a planned date of May 2010 for fully reopening the building, the Victoria Memorial Museum Building Renewal Project continued at a fast pace throughout the year focusing on the timely completion, within budget, of scheduled work to the East Wing and central core of the Victoria Memorial Museum Building. To prepare for the 2010 reopening, Museum staff plan to install two new galleries: a new, signature Water Gallery and associated travelling exhibition titled “Canada’s Waterscapes”; and the re-installation of a revitalized Earth/Mineral signature gallery (Phase 1). In recognition of the International Year of Biodiversity, the Museum will host a special exhibition titled Frogs: A Chorus of Colours, which will be complemented by a permanent Live Animals and Plants Gallery. The renovation of the Victoria Memorial Museum Building will also offer improved visitor amenities and a multipurpose theatre. Dates remain to be confirmed for the permanent installation of the planned Discovery Centre and Nature of Humans signature gallery. KEY HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE 2010 REOPENING • A new signature Water Gallery and associated programming; • A revitalized Earth/Mineral Gallery (Phase 1); • A Live Animals and Plants Gallery; • Frogs: A Chorus of Colours a special exhibition commemorating the International Year of Biodiversity; • A multipurpose Theatre; and • Improved visitor amenities. 3. Achieving Financial Sustainability and Maximizing Revenue The Museum continued to work with the Government of Canada to seek a long-term solution to its shortfall in facilities operating funds. The Government’s commitment in Budget 2008 of additional funds for capital repairs has provided some relief while the Museum continues to work on developing a solution to address the $2.2 million shortfall in operating costs that will occur once the fully restored Victoria Memorial Museum Building is commissioned and opens to the public in May 2010. With fixed and non-discretionary costs consuming over 93 percent of the Museum’s base appropriations and self-generated revenues, the Museum’s flexibility for programming and new services is extremely limited. The Museum’s success in fundraising and in generating new revenues was noted in a recent report commissioned by the Department of Canadian Heritage titled “Assessment of Revenue Generation Capacity of the National Museums of Canada”. Generating additional revenues continues to be a priority. To this end, the Museum completed an in-depth review of revenue generating opportunities and prepared for the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages a “Revenue Generation Framework” report. The Museum’s goal is to increase earned and contributed revenue to 15 percent of its operating budget by 2011-2012. CANADIAN